EU proposes new police powers to monitor all electronic communications

The European Union is proposing that phone companies, mobile companies and internet service providers must retain all information that they collect on anyone called or contacted by an EU citizen and the places where those comunications were made for a period of at least one year. The new proposals are being formulated because law enforcement agencies are worried that the rapid pace of technical innovation opens new opportunities for terrorists. The ever widening diversity of devices means that EU police forces say they are struggling to keep up. ...more

HSBC strengthens online defences

The HSBC is claiming the largest UK roll out of access code generating key fobs to its business customers. Some 180,000 of its business customers will receive the key fobs, costing the bank around ?3 each, in a bid to combat online fraud following successful roll outs in the US and Hong Kong. A spokesperson told us that HSBC has no plans to offer the security devices to its consumer customers as 'the risk profile is so much higher' for businesses. ...more

Sugar-light computing

It's the size of a sugar cube and it's makers claim it represents a breakthrough for the development of optical networks. The Californian-based Genoa Corporation has announced what it claims to be the world's first single-chip, linear optical amplifier (LOA). It is a small semiconductor device that can amplify light of different wavelengths in optical communications networks. ...more

iPhone 'definitely' on its way

An iPod phone is definitely coming, according to sources in Taiwan. The Australian online technology magazineSmarthouse says that it has received confirmation that Apple is currently negotiating with Taiwanese suppliers to build the as yet un-named and unannounced iPhone. The report quotes an un-named BenQ executive as saying 'An iPod phone is definitely coming. ...more

Sun bolsters x86 server line with AMD Opterons

Sun has expanded its Solaris x86 range with more AMD Opteron-based servers and workstations. New announcements include the Sun Fire V40z Server, Sun Java Workstation W1100z and Sun Java Workstation W2100z, which are now officially available. 'With Sun offering unparalleled leadership on operating systems, high-performance hardware and the Sun Java System software, including the Java Enterprise System and the Java Desktop System, I'm confident our newest systems based on the AMD Opteron processor will leave our competitors in the dark,' boasted John Fowler, executive VP of Sun's Network Systems Group. ...more